(CNN) — It’s hard not to feel a little sorry for the Ecuadorian capital of Quito. Often viewed by travelers as an inconvenient layover en route to the Galapagos Islands, the city is an underappreciated metropolis as rich in history and singular attractions as Ecuador’s acclaimed archipelago.
Travelers willing to give Quito a chance will quickly discover a beguiling place brimming with culture, eclectic museums and flavorful cuisine, much of which can be found in its remarkably well-preserved UNESCO-recognized historic center.
kAmw6C6 2C6 D@>6 @7 E96 C62D@?D H9J "F:E@ 56D6CG6D E@ 36 D@ >F49 >@C6 E92? 2? 27E6CE9@F89Eik^Am
k9amp DEC:<:?8 ~=5 %@H?k^9am
kAmtC64E65 @? E96 2D96D @7 2? x?42 4:EJ[ "F:E@’D 9:DE@C:4 @=5 E@H? H2D 7@F?565 3J E96 $A2?:D9 :? `dbc 2?5 C6>2:?D @?6 @7 E96 =2C86DE 2?5 >@DE :?E24E 6I2>A=6D @7 4@=@?:2= $A2?:D9 2C49:E64EFC6 :? E96 $@FE96C? w6>:DA96C6]k^Am
kAm%96 9:DE@C:4 46?E6C :D D@ DEC:<:?8 2?5 H6==\AC6D6CG65[ :? 724E[ E92E :E H2D E96 7:CDE 42A:E2= 4:EJ :? E96 H@C=5 E@ 36 =:DE65 2D 2 &}t$r~ (@C=5 w6C:E286 $:E6 :? `hfg]k^Am
kAm%96 36DE H2J E@ DE2CE 6IA=@C:?8 E96 @=5 E@H? — >F49 @7 H9:49 :D 2 A656DEC:2?\@?=J 2C62 — :D E@ D:E 7@C 2 DA6== :? E96 !=2K2 56 =2 x?56A6?56?4:2 W@C !=2K2 vC2?56[ 2D :E’D <?@H? E@ =@42=DX] p DE@?6’D E9C@H 7C@> E96 AC6D:56?E’D A2=246[ J@F 42? H:E?6DD E96 4@=@C7F= 492?8:?8 @7 E96 8F2C5 @? %F6D52JD 2E `` 2]>]k^Am
kAm%96 A2=> EC66\A6AA6C65 DBF2C6 :D 2 >:4C@4@D> @7 =:76 :? "F:E@] w6C6[ 72>:=:6D 6I492?86 FA52E6D 2D E96:C 49:=5C6? 492D6 6249 @E96C 2C@F?5 E96 >2:? 7@F?E2:?[ 2?5 8C@FAD @7 >6? 9F55=6 @? 36?496D E@ A=2J 42C5D H9:=6 DEC66E A6C7@C>6CD G:6 7@C 2EE6?E:@?] x? E96 >:5DE @7 :E 2== 2C6 DEC66E G6?5@CD D6==:?8 6>A2?252D 2?5 >2?8@ D=:46D 2D E96J H62G6 6IA6CE=J :? 2?5 @FE @7 E96 4C@H5D]k^Am
k9am$:?8F=2C 49FC496Dk^9am
kAm}@ >2EE6C H96C6 J@F D6E @77 7C@> :? E96 9:DE@C:4 46?E6C[ 6G6CJ EFC? 2=@?8 2 4@33=6DE@?65 DEC66E :D DFC6 E@ =625 E@ D@>6 ?@E23=6 2C49:E64EFC2= >2CG6=[ 3FE E96C6 2C6 E9C66 49FC496D E92E 56D6CG6 DA64:2= ?@E:46]k^Am
kAm%96 r9FC49 2?5 r@?G6?E @7 $2? uC2?4:D4@[ <?@H? D:>A=J 2D $2? uC2?4:D4@[ :D E96 =2C86DE 4@=@?:2= 3F:=5:?8 :? E96 4:EJ 2?5 @G6C=@@<D 2 DBF2C6 E92E 362CD :ED ?2>6] |@C6 C6=:8:@FD 4@>A@F?5 E92? 49FC49[ :E 9@FD6D 2 r2E9@=:4 49FC49[ 2 >@?2DE6CJ[ 2 9F86 =:3C2CJ 2?5 2 >FD6F>] %96 3FDJ $2? uC2?4:D4@ DBF2C6 :D 2? :562= DA@E E@ D2>A=6 D@>6 t4F25@C:2? DEC66E 7@@5 =:<6 >25FC@D 4@? BF6D@ W7C:65 A=2?E2:?D H:E9 4966D6X 2?5 E2== DA:C6D @7 2 7=F77J >6C:?8F6 4@?764E:@? 42==65 6DAF>:==2]k^Am
kAmu@C 2 3C62E9E2<:?8 A2?@C2>2[ ?@?6 42? 4@>A6E6 H:E9 E96 ?6@\v@E9:4 q2Dí=:42 56= '@E@ }24:@?2=] p5@C?65 H:E9 2 72?E2DE:42= 4@==64E:@? @7 82C8@J=6D 32D65 @? t4F25@C:2? 2?:>2=D W:?4=F5:?8 :8F2?2D[ AF>2D 2?5 3@@3:6DX[ E9:D 2CC6DE:?8 49FC49 :D E96 E2==6DE 32D:=:42 :? E96 p>6C:42D 2?5 @776CD ;2H\5C@AA:?8 G:6HD @7 E96 4:EJ 2?5 DFCC@F?5:?8 4@F?ECJD:56]k^Am
kAm%96 @E96C 49FC49 ?@E E@ >:DD :D E96 C6DA=6?56?E {2 r@>A2ñí2] pD >F49 2? 9@>286 E@ 2== E92E 8=:EE6CD 2D :E :D E@ v@5[ E96 =2G:D9[ H2==\E@\H2== 8@=5 :?E6C:@C H:== =62G6 J@F 2H6DECF4<]k^Am
k9am!C6\r@=F>3:2? 2CE[ 2 H2E6C >FD6F> 2?5 >@C6k^9am
kAmu6H 4:E:6D :? $@FE9 p>6C:42 42? 3@2DE DF49 2? 64=64E:4 2?5 :?EC:8F:?8 >:I @7 >FD6F>D 2D "F:E@]k^Am
kAm%96 D>2== 3FE D4:?E:==2E:?8 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^2=2325@]@C8^:?:4:@^Qmr2D2 56= p=2325@ !C6\r@=F>3:2? pCE |FD6F>k^2m :D 9@FD65 :? 2 =@G6=J `eE9\46?EFCJ >2?D:@? 2?5 9:89=:89ED H@C<D @7 2CE[ D4F=AEFC6D 2?5 E6IE:=6D 7C@> 2 G2C:6EJ @7 p?562? :?5:86?@FD A@AF=2E:@?D]k^Am
kAmk2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^8F2J2D2>:?]@C8]64^QmuF?524:ó? vF2J2D2>í?k^2m :D 565:42E65 E@ t4F25@C’D >@DE 72>@FD 2CE:DE[ ~DH2=5@ vF2J2D2>í?] $6E :?D:56 9:D 7@C>6C 9@>6[ E96 4@==64E:@? :D 2 >:I @7 9:D H@C<[ 2D H6== 2D vF2J2D2>í?’D A6CD@?2= 4@==64E:@? @7 AC6\r@=F>3:2? 2CE:724ED 2?5 C6=:8:@FD 2CE]k^Am
kAmu@C 72>:=:6D EC2G6=:?8 H:E9 <:5D[ E96 @?6\@7\2\<:?5 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^J2<F>FD6@28F2]8@3]64^Qm*2<F (2E6C |FD6F>k^2m :D ?@E E@ 36 >:DD65] !2CE >FD6F>[ A2CE H2E6C A2C<[ E9:D A=2J7F= 65F42E:@?2= :?DE:EFE:@? 46=63C2E6D @FC >@DE AC:46=6DD C6D@FC46]k^Am
kAm!@AF=2C 2>@?8 =@42=D 3FE =2C86=J @G6C=@@<65 3J E@FC:DED[ E96 6?492?E:?8 k2 9C67lQ9EEAi^^HHH]>FD6@DBF:E@]8@3]64^>FD6@56=A2D:==@^Qm|FD6@ 56= !2D:==@k^2m :D 565:42E65 E@ t4F25@C’D 72G@C:E6 >FD:42= 86?C6] %9:D =@G:?8=J AFE E@86E96C DA246 EC246D t4F25@C’D >FD:42= 9:DE@CJ 3J D9@H42D:?8 6G6CJE9:?8 7C@> 92?5>256 :?DECF>6?ED E@ 72>@FD A6C7@C>6CD] %96 >FD6F> 6G6? AFED @? 2 G2C:6EJ @7 D9@HD[ :?4=F5:?8 2 <2C2@<6 ?:89E @7 EC25:E:@?2= t4F25@C:2? D@?8]k^Am
kAmx7 J@F 5@ G:D:E E96 >FD6F>[ 36 DFC6 E@ 2D< 2E E96 7C@?E 56D< :7 2 8F:56 ?2>65 uC65J :D H@C<:?8] (9:=6 E96C6 2C6 ?@ @77:4:2= t?8=:D9 E@FCD[ uC65J H:== 5@ 9:D 36DE E@ 6?E9FD:2DE:42==J EC2?D=2E6 E96 6I9:3:E =236=D 7@C t?8=:D9\DA62<:?8 G:D:E@CD]k^Am
k9amu=2G@CD @7 t4F25@Ck^9am
kAmr2DF2= 2?5 4@KJ[ w6=256C:2 $2? p8FDEí? C6DE2FC2?E 92D 366? @A6C2E:?8 7@C @G6C `d_ J62CD 2?5 =:6D ;FDE @77 E96 >2:? DBF2C6] xE’D 6DA64:2==J 3FDJ 2E =F?49E:>6 H96? :E 7:==D E@ 42A24:EJ H:E9 =@42=D =@@<:?8 E@ :?5F=86 :? 277@C523=6 EC25:E:@?2= t4F25@C:2? 4F:D:?6]k^Am
kAm%CJ E96 46G:496 @C E96 D64@ 56 49:G@ W8@2E DE6HX[ @C @AE 7@C E96 D6E 52:=J >6?F[ H9:49 :D 2=H2JD 2 32C82:? 2?5 :?4=F56D 2 >2:? >62=[ 2 5C:?< 2?5 56DD6CE 7@C F?56C S`a] %96 A=246 :D 2=D@ H6==\<?@H? 7@C :ED 92?5>256 :46 4C62>]k^Am
kAm(9:=6 E96C6 2C6 5@K6?D @7 7C6D9=J >256 :46 4C62> G2C:6E:6D[ E96 96=25@ 56 A2:=2 :D 2 DE2?5@FE] %96 t4F25@C:2? D@C36E\=:<6 EC62E :D >256 E23=6 D:56 H:E9 E96 96=A @7 5C:65 :46 2?5 2 =2C86 DA:??:?8 >6E2= A@E]k^Am
kAmk2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]42D282?8@E6?2]4@>^6D^C6DE2FC2?E6^Qm#6DE2FC2?E6 r2D2 v2?8@E6?2k^2m D6CG6D 6=6G2E65 p?562? 72C6 :? E96 =FIFC:@FD r2D2 v2?8@E6?2 3@FE:BF6 9@E6=[ 2 362FE:7F==J C6DE@C65 >2?D:@?] xE 92D @?6 @7 E96 >@DE 4@G6E65 >6?FD :? E@H? 2?5 AC:56D :ED6=7 @? D9@H42D:?8 E96 C:49?6DD 2?5 5:G6CD:EJ @7 t4F25@C:2? 4F:D:?6] |6?F 9:89=:89ED :?4=F56 =@4C@ BF:E6ñ@[ 2 EC25:E:@?2= D@FA >256 H:E9 A@E2E@6D[ 4@C? 2?5 4966D6[ 2?5 E96 A@C< q@?5:@=2[ 2 A@C< D9@F=56C >2C:?2E65 7@C fa 9@FCD 2?5 D6CG65 H:E9 =2G6?56C 2?5 32=D2>:4 G:?682C]k^Am
kAm%96 4C62E:G6 32C >6?F WH9:49 4@?E2:?D 2? 6?E:4:?8 C2?86 @7 >@4<E2:=DX :D 2? 9@>286 E@ t4F25@C:2? DA:C:ED 2?5 C68:@?2= :?8C65:6?ED] ~? 2 4@@= ?:89E[ 2 DA:465 9@E 5C:?< 42==65 2 42?6=2K@ 9:ED E96 DA@E] r2D2 v2?8@E6?2’D EH:DE @? E9:D EC25:E:@?2= 36G6C286 4@?E2:?D 9:3:D4FD\ 2?5 4@4@?FE\:?7FD65 DF82C 42?6 =:BF@C 2?5 4@>6D 4@>A=6E6 H:E9 2 A2=@ D2?E@ DE:4< E92E’D D6E 2=:89E] pD< E@ 36 D62E65 3J E96 @FE5@@C 7:C6A=246 @? E96 9@E6=’D C@@7E@A E6CC246 E@ 6?;@J DEF??:?8 ?:89EE:>6 G:6HD @7 E96 4:EJ]k^Am
k9amvF:565 E@FCDk^9am
kAm|6EC@A@=:E2? %@FC:?8’D “{:G6 "F:E@ {:<6 2 {@42=” H2=<:?8 E@FC :D 8C62E 7@C G:D:E@CD H:E9 @?=J 2 52J @C EH@ E@ 6IA=@C6 "F:E@] %9:D 6I46AE:@?2= 6IA6C:6?46[ 56D:8?65 :? 4@?;F?4E:@? H:E9 2 8C2DDC@@ED ?6:893@C9@@5 8C@FA[ AC@G:56D 2 7:CDE\92?5 8=:>AD6 :?E@ 2 D:56 @7 "F:E@ ?@E ?@C>2==J D66? 3J E@FC:DED]k^Am
kAmp>@?8 @E96C D:E6D[ J@F’== 2=D@ H2?56C 2C@F?5 E96 2?:>2E65 r2==6 #@427F6CE6 ?6:893@C9@@5[ 2D H6== 2D 86E 2 492?46 E@ >66E D@>6 @7 "F:E@’D 2CE:D2?D 2?5 D9@A<66A6CD[ DF49 2D 2 EC25:E:@?2= 96C32=:DE[ 2 >:==:?6C[ 2 49@4@=2E:6C 2?5 2 >2? H9@ =@G:?8=J C6DE@C6D C6=:8:@FD :4@?D]k^Am
kAm%96\r}}\(:C6k^Am
kAm™ U2>Aj © a_ab r23=6 }6HD }6EH@C<[ x?4][ 2 (2C?6C qC@D] s:D4@G6CJ r@>A2?J] p== C:89ED C6D6CG65]k^Am
Success! An email has been sent to with a link to confirm list signup.
Error! There was an error processing your request.
